Desert Run II; Searching for Water

Mon Jun 27, 2022 1:57 pm

Glade 87, 4622¤

Miki had already saddled up the chariot early in the morning. She was eating a meager breakfast when she saw Deimos again and offered him some of the food. It was simple eggs, a piece of toast covered in butter, and a single piece of bacon.
"Better eat here, we have a long ride ahead of us to get to Alistain. Have you heard of it? I ain't know much but it's on a bay which lets out into the ocean. You may feel more at home there. I have a contact who runs a farm on the edge of the Badlands near there, we can stop there if you wanna? I'd like to get back in touch with them. In fact, let's do that, it has been a long time. You may like her company as well, she keeps a golem herself for work on the farm."
She was moving slowly, not worried about time or rushing him at all, letting him set the pace of their leaving. She had little to get ready and would bide her time waiting on him. She would take some time to check over her chariot. She pulled out a tumble weed from under her wheel and inspected her chariot. It looked like shit, had certainly seen better days. Using her bare fingers she would pull of bits of bone and other strata clung to the inside of her chariot's wheel. It wasn't much for the sad looking chariot, but it was undoing at least some minor damage the chariot had taken on her rides.

Once they were both ready Miki would start her chariot and tell Deimos,
"We are headed due North, it will take us right to the river, from there we will need to head East to find her farm. Keep up, I go fast."
They traveled on for that day until they reached the farm. They were on the edge of the Badlands, as could be told by the ever increasing amount of life, foliage, and the creatures too started becoming more plentiful almost as soon as the border was reached. From there they rode East, it was now sundown. They had reached their destination. A single dilapidated shack with a creaking windmill sat in a mostly barren part of this expanse of the Waste's border. There was a scraggly field of maize and a few sad, skinny looking cows. They were greeted by a human woman, a plain brunette with a metal plate covering the left side of her head, giving her head a single-sided mohawk appearance as her strawberry blonde hair fell to the opposite side in a large swoop.
"I wondered who that was growling near. It's good to see you."
Miki got off her chariot in front of the house and grasped the woman's hand, introducing her to Deimos,
"Deimos, this is Holly. We met on a few different raids. Mostly just shooting critters, ain't that right?"
Holly gave a slight smile but it was clearly half hearted. Miki noticed and asked her,
"What? What's on your mind?"
Holly sighed and confessed what plagued her.
"Critters, kind of weird you show up Miki. I've been having an issue with.... large lizards. They're decimating my farm. I could use the help in killing them, you see, I just had a baby and can't leave her side for too long. She is a fresh newborn, but I fear the lizards will get into my home if I don't stop them. This problem has been going on for two weeks, I'm starting to get really-- well, hate to admit it, but spooked. Is there anything you can do? I'll offer room and board until the problem is dealt with."
Miki looked to Deimos and raised a brow as if to ask,
"You in?"

► Show Spoiler

Tue Sep 27, 2022 8:41 pm

Deimos joined Miki at the table, bleary-eyed with his long dark-green hair down and slightly frizzed. Even after a night's sleep, he looked exhausted. He wiped the sleep from his eyes and perked when offered breakfast. Greedily, he wolfed it down before sheepishly saying to Miki, "Ah, thank you." Swallowing the last bite, he listened to the day's itinerary.

He shook his head at the question. "I have not heard of it, no. If it is a bay, though, it would be very much welcome." He gave her a tired smile.

".... She keeps a golem herself for work on the farm."

Deimos perked at the words, following Miki outside to their chariots. "You mean, your friend knows this craft? Does she know how to create a nexus properly? What about other commands? Can she string a few commands together? Would she be able to teach...?" He paused his rapid-fire questions, blushing as he realized he wasn't giving Miki room to answer. "Ah, apologies. I have never met someone who could do the craft. At least not someone who could be introduced." He tapped a small journal strapped to his hip by a few leather straps. "Mayhaps she could look over my notes. I did not feel comfortable asking those at the Library if what I was doing was correct. They were all..." He scrunched his nose. "...unfriendly."

He looked over his own chariot to get any refuse out of its gears and moving parts before checking to make sure Chalkós was still under the blankets. Of course, it was, and Deimos breathed a sigh of relief. Chalkós still laid there, silent and still.

"...Keep up, I go fast."

Deimos nodded, recovering Chalkós, and started his chariot while pulling his goggles down. While he lagged behind a few times, he did manage to keep close behind Miki. It became easier to ride as the sand slowly became soil, and the trail of dust Miki left dissipated. Deimos saw through his colored lenses a more familiar landscape of scattered trees and small animals and he smiled to himself. The air seemed easier to breathe, though the dry heat of the desert was not far behind.

Upon reaching the shack, and slowing to a stop, Deimos lifted his goggles to his forehead. He blinked a few times to become adjusted to the air after a long ride and wiped a few tired tears from his eyes. As the human woman approached, he couldn't help but stare. As he looked from the plate to her face, he tried to avert his gaze so as not to offend the stranger. As Miki introduced them, Deimos gave the woman a slight nod. Holly, he repeated in his mind. Holly...

Miki and Holly exchanged brief pleasantries before troubles were brought to the surface. Deimos listened to the issue, and smirked as Miki asked "You in?"

"Most definitely!"

Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:37 pm

¤

Miki wondered at the man with her and wasn't sure he was quite worth ditching work for, but a favor to Holly was a good favor to have. Room and board was kept nice and they slept their that night in separate rooms, sparse furniture could be seen but the bed was comfortable and there was a mirror and a working sink. Other than that a view to the potatoes and carrots outside in the fields where the cows roamed freely. Miki slept peacefully in her bed for the first time in a long time, not a single dream or thought until something in the dark awoke her, a hissing.

Frozen still the Moroi felt her bones rattle with fear, assuming the worst, until a human hand reached out and grabbed her with another hand placed on Miki's mouth to stifle a scream.
"Look outside."
Holly whispered, pointing to the window freeing Miki's mouth. Large razor back lizards were outside grazing on the potato leaves. They looked benign, but in sheer size she could see the worry. The largest was the size of a wolf, the rest, the sizes of large dogs.
"I should tell Deimos."
So Miki snuck out through the rickety halls, squeaking and trying her best not to, until she reached his bedroom door. Without knocking she let herself in and woke him in a way to not startle, by gently placing her hand in his shoulder and tapping until he was roused, whispering his name. When he was awoken she would tell him,
"The lizards are here, you think your dog can take one? Some are kinda small."
She was in her night clothes, not yet put on her jacket and proper pants. All she wore was a white night gown which came down to her knees, hanging in a baggy way. Shoes tucked away under the bed, even her feet were exposed.
"We'll have to get ready, but we can pick off a few tonight and maybe get any stragglers in the daytime."